Crochet Coatlicue Top from Pompom Quarterly Issue #33

After helping my best crochet buddy, Kristine, pick out some yarn to knit her own Coatlicue Top from Pompom Quarterly Issue #33, I was inspired to crochet my own.  This was my first really serious attempt at Mosaic Crochet and OMG, it is SO MUCH FUN but definitely a lot slower than just ordinary crochet!

Based on my size, I decided to knit size 3 of the pattern which called for an E hook used throughout the body and sport weight linen yarn.  I decided to stash dive and first tried crocheting with some sport weight wool but it was (unsurprisingly) too heavy and ultimately end up using a D hook throughout the body and the following yarn:

Color A: The Fibre Co. Arranmore light Donegal heritage ("a tweedy blend of fine merino wool, cashmere and silk") in St. Claire

Color B: Sandnes Garn Alpakka in 4109 

Color C: Sandnes Garn Alpakka in 6554

                                

Both B and C were purchased while I was in Norway and leftover from the Block Stitch Baby Afghan I crochet for Xena back in 2017.

All 3 of these yarns are basically fingering weight and the hook size was perfect.  When I initially began working the first few rounds of the vest, I was like, "What the...?!", but once I started making progress in the colorwork chart, things really started to come together.

This is what the body looks like once the colorwork chart is complete.

At this point, it could be worn as a groovy cowl.

It took me less than 3 weeks to crochet this vest and only a couple hours to complete the very minimal seaming and edging.

The pattern was very easy to understand.  The only thing I did differently was moving the join of the beginning of every round to the back (instead of the front) since my jog isn't the prettiest.

I really love the layered affected of mosaic crochet!

I also love the griddle stitch worked on the top of the vest.

Using a high contrast color on the edging really pulls the whole vest together.

The vest even looks great inside out!

...well except for my BEG round join.

You really just gotta see and feel the texture of this thing IRL though!

Even the close ups barely do it justice.

This vest feels so good and fits so perfectly.  It looks great from so many different angles that I posed for a ton of photos.

Mad props to my IG hus for pausing to shoot these photos on his way to work this morning.

I'm so stoked and I can't wait to stash dive to crochet another!  

Custom Knit Hat Request

Recently, one of my friends contacted me with a fun and unique custom knit hat request.  Some jerk broke into her BF's car and stole, not just 1 but 2 of his favorite knit hats from childhood.  She provided me with this photo of 1 of the hats to refer to make a replacement.

She wanted a combination of this color palette.

So I swung by Firebird Yarns in the Lower Haight and selected these funky jams to play with.

But after knitting a little swatch, we agreed that the blue yarn was too overwhelming.

So I ended up using Cat Sandwich Trustie 75% SWM/25% nylon Peonies in Season sock yarn held with Houndstooth Fiber Arts Painted Ladies 75% SWM/25% nylon Applejack to knit the final product.

The results of these two yarns held together is pure bliss.

It's like they were just meant to be together.

The hat is knit in 1 x 1 ribbing while the ear flaps are in stockinette and the straps are crocheted.

I used Purl Soho's free Classic Ribbed Hat pattern and added ear flaps and straps to it.  My friend assures me that her BF absolutely loves the hat and it fits perfectly.

Of course, Xena had to try it on herself first.

This was the first time I've ever added straps or ear flaps to a hat.  I didn't follow any specific pattern.  I just made my own measurements for size and placement and worked the decreases similar to decreasing for the toe of a sock.  It was very satisfying to finally feel confident enough in my own knitting prowess to work things out on my own.  Having decades of experience designing crochet garments definitely helped.  The biggest challenge for me was conceptualizing a hat that looked like the hat in the picture that would also fit an adult.

I really love this hat pattern with or without ear flaps and straps and am already well on my way to knitting a few more for X-Mas gifts.

Atelier Luxury Gaiter Pattern #371 with a 100% cotton liner

I was so intrigued by Amanda's Luxury Gaiter Pattern #371 that I immediately cast one on using a 115g hank of HHF Skinny Dip/DK 100% Wolle that I bought a while back in KindredRed's destash sale.  I love this bright aqua color so much and HHF is one of my favorite yarn companies.  The pattern is free with a yarn purchase at Atelier.  Amanda knit samples in Madeline Tosh Pashmina and Prism Petite Madison.  I think most DK or sport weight yarn would work fine.

In the time of Corona, I've worn a variety of masks and have quickly realized my personal mask preferences. With winter right around the corner, I thought it would be a great idea to take this pattern to the next level and put a 100% cotton liner inside of it.  I wanted to make something that was warm but also breathable and washable.

The gaiter itself is the quickest knit ever.  It took me less than 48 hrs to knit.  With this specific yarn, I only managed a total of 13 increases (the pattern calls for 17), which fits me fine and I knit the last 4 rows in 2 x 2 ribbing instead of stockinette.

With the heat we've had lately, it only took about 2.5 days for the gaiter to finish blocking.

In case it isn't already obvious, knitted fabric is very elastic so if you want to put a billowy liner inside of a knit garment, the liner needs to be a lot bigger.  As far as gaiters and cowls are concerned, the most important measurement is making sure the liner is big enough to fit over your head.  To obtain my measurements, I put on the gaiter and then took measuring tape and measured it at the top, middle and bottom.  Then I added a little bit of ease and came up with these specs:

Top circumference - 25"

Middle circumference - 25"

Bottom Circumfrence - 38"

Then I roughly sketched that out on cotton fabric using a yard stick, design styling ruler and pencil.  I'm no seamstress.  The most sewing instruction I ever received was in Home Ec. class in 7th or 8th grade.  When I sew things, I know I'm probably not doing things how a pro would but things somehow usually miraculously work out in the end.

I left a 1/2" of selvage around my pattern, pinned the 2 pieces together and cut it out with pinking shears.  Then I sewed the sides together on the sewing machine, turned my tube outside in and top stitched around the top and the bottom of my liner.

Then i inserted the liner into the gaiter and clothes pinned the edges, constantly stretching the gaiter before I pinned it, similar to pinning elastic into the top of a skirt.  The TECHknitting blog has the best instructions for how to hand sew a liner into knit fabric.

I love hand sewing.  While some people consider it to be tedious and old fashioned, I find it very soothing and relaxing.

I sewed the entire liner during less than 2 quarters of a NFL game if anyone is wondering how long it takes to complete.

This is the top opening of the gaiter.

You can kind of see how fluffy the liner is when the finished gaiter is laying flat.

It feels so much more comfortable than wearing a traditional mask with elastic around my ears and it is SO warm, yet super breathable.  It can be worn above or below the ears.  Although the virus inspired me to make this, I look forward to wearing it long after it's hopefully disappeared.